Fluid pressure dispensing apparatus



y 1934- c. A. CORCORAN ,959,815

FLUID PRESSURE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1933 J! .35 figl.

j? I 27 2a 2;. I 22 Z5 21 .5. K: Z4 /2 j; 1 4 /0 \/5 we 4 I Patented May 22, 1934 STATE PATENT UNITE The present invention relates to fluid pres Referring to the drawing, the device is shown sure dispensing devices or apparatus and has paras comprising a cylindrical casing 1 having heads ticular relation to devices for supplying gas under 2 and 3 threaded into the upper and lower ends pressure to the interior of a receptacle for exthereof respectively and which is provided with 'pelling a beverage or other fluid substance com a transverse wall or partition 4 intermediate its 60 tained therein. ends which divides the interior of the casing One of the objects of the present invention is into a lower chamber 5 and an upper chamber 6.

to provide a device of the character described The lower chamber 5 constitutes the pressure which is entirely self contained and which is h mb r and m y b charged wi h gas und r adapted to be inserted as a unit and sealed withpressure or supplied with solidified carbon di- 65 in a beer barrel or the like and which is adjust- OXide While the pp a ber 6 Constitutes a able to supply gas continuously at a predeterp s equalizing C a be a d houses the remined constant pressure, and at desired interducing valve mechanism presently to be devals until exhausted, to the interior of the barrel scribed. A ball or other check valve '7 is threadin order to expel the beer at the desired pressure. ed into the W head 3 and iS PTOVided W a 70 Another object of the invention is to provide d p nd pp 8 d p d to be engaged by a device of the character described in which the ita le pr ssure hose when the chamber 5 is pressure adjusting means is inaccessible after the i it a ly ha d w t as u d r pr ssure. This device has been scaled within the receptacle so initial a e of s under pressure is considerthat it cannot be tampered with or its adjustment y in c ss of t at required to expel the entire .75 altered without first unsealing the receptacle and Contents of t receptacle 0 barrel in which the removing the device bodily therefrom. device may be installed or assembled, thereby ob- Still another object of the invention is to proviating he necessity of replacing the pressure vide a device of the character described which is device before the receptacle 1S p d- In t e 25. adapted to be initially charged with a suit b1 event that it is desired to charge the chamber 5 '30 gas underpressure or i which the pressure h with solidified carbon dioxide, the lower head 3 is her may be charged with carbon dioxide in solid unscrewed by a W e h r Othe tool applied to form, such as dry ice, the transformation of which a q a d bO 9 as i teg ally with the head 3. into carbon dioxide gas will furnish the desired o u ca between the su e chamber pressure 5 and the valve chamber 6 is established through 5 With such objects in view, as well as other adthe medium of duct 10 of relatively s al crossvantages which may be incident to the use of the Sectional dimensions and the w 0f gas t ou h improvements, the invention consists in the use d duct is eehtlolled y a Valve 11 Carried by of the parts and combinations thereof hereinafter one end of a V rti ally sw gi g arm 12 for enset forth and claimed, with the understanding gagement witha valve seat 3, preferably of a- 90 that the several necessary elements constituting tively soft metal. The other end of the arm 12 the same may be varied in proportions and aris pivotally mou p a P carried by rangement without departing from the nature vertically extend ears 15 t integrally With and scope of the invention. the partition 4. The outer end of the arm 12 is In order to make the invention more clearly urged downwardly so as to seat the valve 11 in 5 understood there are shown in the accompany- Order to interrupt the f ow of gas through the ing drawing means for carrying the same into duct 10, by means of a lever 16 which is pivotally practical effect, without limiting the improvemounted, as at between a P Of ears 18 ments, in their useful applications, to the parwhich may also be cast integrally with the partiticular constructions which, for the purpose of tion 4. One end of the lever 161s p v With explanation, have been made the subject of illusa cam surface 19 for e g gement with the outer tration. end of the arm 12 and the other end of said lever In the said drawing:-- is pivotally mounted, as at 20, to the lower end Figure l is a fragmentary vertical sectional of a vertically extending d 1. This stud eX- 50 view illustrating the improved pressure dispenstends axially through a flexible diaphragm 22 ing device as being detachably secured to the bun preferably consisting of a relatively thin sheet of of a beer container, and phosphor bronze and is secured thereto by means Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a conical nut 23. The diaphragm 22 is clamped of the pressure dispensing device shown in Figbetween an annular flange 24 cast integrally with 55 ure 1. the walls of the casing 1 and a ring 25 which is diO inserted through the upper end of the casing with a tight pressed fit.

The diaphragm 22 is urged downwardly by the means of a coil spring 26 the lower end of which seats upon the conical nut 23 and the upper end of which engages a flanged plate 27 secured to the lower end of an adjusting screw 28. This screw is threaded into the upper head 2 and is provided with a slot 29 by means of which it may be turned by a screw driver or similar tool in order to adjust the tension exerted by the spring 26 against the diaphragm 22. The adjusting screw 28 is maintained in adjusted position by means of a lock nut 30 which is threaded onto the upper end of the screw for clamping engagement with the upper surface of the head 2.

Communication between the valve chamber 6 and the interior of the receptacle in which the device is sealed is established through a port 31 also of relatively small cross-sectional dimension. A -check valve may beprovided if desired for preventing the contents of the receptacle from entering the chamber 6 through the part 31.

Theupper end of the casing 1 is exteriorly screw threaded, as indicated at 32, to enable the device to be threaded into aninternally threaded bung orclosure-33 of a beverage receptacle 34, as indicated in Figure 1. If desired, the device maybe detachable'and secured to the bung 33 by means of a suitable bayonet joint connection (not shown).

Assuming that the pressure chamber 5 is charged with a suitablegas under pressure and that the device is mounted within the receptacle 34 as illustrated in Figure 1, gas will escape from thechamb'er 5 through the duct 10 into the valve chamber 6 and thence through the duct 31 into the receptacle 34. When the pressure of the gas within the receptacle :34 and valve chamber '6 reaches a value'determined in advance by the proper'adjustment of the tension of thespring 26, the diaphragm 22 will be flexed upwardly against the "action of the spring26. This movement of the diaphragm '22 elevates the stud 21 and the lever arm 16 secured thereto and causes the'camvportion 19 to swing downwardly and depress the arm 12 so as to seat the valve 11' and interrupt the escape of gas from the pressure chamber '5.

Thepressure desired within the receptacle varies in accordance with thesubstance being dis- .pensed. Inthe event that the contents of the receptacle is a beverage the pressure within the receptacle may be selectively regulated to meet the :predetermined discharge demands by the proper adjustment of the screw 28 above described. For example suchpressure, when the contents to be dispensed consistsof beer,'n'iay be substantially 20. pounds to the square inch. This pressure, being in excess of atmospheric pressure, excludes air from the outer atmosphere fromthe' receptacle the presence of which would impair the flavor and quality of the beer when the device is employed to dispense beer.

As-shown in Figure 1 the beverage may be 'dispensed through'a suitable faucet 35 which communica'tes with avertically extending tube 36 the lower end of which terminates adjacent to the bottom of the receptacle andis provided with a strainer 37.

Whenthe faucet 35 is opened the. pressure of the-gas within the receptacle 34 will expel the beverage until the'pressure within the receptacle and valve chamberfi decreases to'a value which is insufficient to maintain the valve 11 closed.

When this period is reached the spring 26 will flex the diaphragm 22 downwardly so as to permit the valve 13 to open under the pressure of the gas within the pressure chamber 5. As soon as the pressure of the gas thus supplied to the receptacle again reaches the predetermined desired value the diaphragm 22 will again be flexed upwardly and close the valve 11 as hereinbefore described.

It will be apparent from an inspection of the drawing that when the device is assembled as shown in Figure 1, the adjusting screw 28 is housed within the bung 33 and cannot be tampered with or its adjustment altered without first unscrewing the bung and removing the device from the receptacle and then detaching the device from the bung so as to expose the adjusting screw 28. This insures that under ordinary conditions the device is fool proof and effectively prevents an explosion from occurring should the screw 28 be manipulatedso as to permit an excessive gas pressure to be built up within the receptacle when the receptacle is sealed.

It is not intended tolimit the invention to the particular constructions shown in Figure 1, as other means may be provided for mounting the device within the'receptacle 34. For example, the device may be detachably secured to a well of the receptacle or to a float and might even be in the form of a cartridge movable freely within the receptacle.

The type or nature of gas employed preferably corresponds to that liberated by the fluid being dispensed. Forexample, when the receptacle is employed for beer the pressure chamber 5 should be charged-with'carbonic acid gas, which is odorless and tasteless. Compressed air may be utilized for the same purposes, such as in the dispensing of oil orggreaseor other materials which will not deteriorate by contact with air.

Also, the device may be provided with a suitable gauge to indicate accurately thepressure at which the reducing valve is adjusted to operate. A suitable safety valve may be provided in the faucet or elsewhere to insure against an excessive pressure from developing within the receptacle should the reducing valvebe. adjusted improperly.

What is claimed is:

. 1. A deviceof the character describedcomprising a casing adapted to be sealed within areceptacle containing a material to be dispensed, said :casing'havingaa pressure chamber for containing a charge of gas under relatively high pressure adapted to besupplied to said receptacle to. expel the material therefrom; means responsive to the .pressure of gas'within said-receptacle for releasing gas from said-pressure chamber into said receptacle when the gas pressurein said receptacle decreases to a predetermined value and for interrupting the flow ofgas from said chamber when the pressure in said receptacle increases toapredetermined :value; and means carried by said casingand inaccessible from without said receptacle when said-casing 'issealed within said receptacle, for adjusting saidpressure responsive means to operate at a selected pressure within said receptacle, whereby the material is expelled from said receptacle at a predeterminedconstant pres- 2. A'device of the oharacter'described comprising a casing adapted to besealed within a receptacle containing a material to be dispensed, said casing :having a pressure chamber for containing a charge oflgas underrelatively high pressure adapted to be supplied to said receptacle to expel the material therefrom; a reducing valve responsive to the pressure of gas within said receptacle for releasing gas from said pressure chamber into said receptacle when the gas pressure in said receptacle decreases to a predetermined value and for interrupting the flow of gas from said chamber when the pressure in said receptacle increases to a predetermined value; and means carried by said casing and inaccessible from without said receptacle when said casing is sealed within said receptacle, for adjusting said reducing valve to operate at a selected pressure within said receptacle, whereby the material is expelled from said receptacle at a predetermined constant pressure.

3. A fluid pressure dispensing device comprising a receptacle for containing a liquid to be dispensed and having an opening therein, a closure for said opening and having a socket provided on its inner face inaccessible from without said receptacle when said closure is in an operative position with respect to said opening, a casing removably secured within said socket, said casing including a pressure chamber for containing a supply of gas under pressure and means responsive to the pressure within said receptacle for controlling the flow of gas from said pressure chamber to the interior of said receptacle, and adjusting means carried by said casing and disposed within said socket for regulating said pressure responsive means to operate at a selected pressure.

4. A fluid pressure dispensing device comprising a receptacle containing a liquid to be dispensed and having an opening therein, a closure for said opening and having a socket provided on its inner face inaccessible from without said receptacle when said closure is in an operative position with respect to said opening, a casing removably secured within said socket, said casing including a pressure chamber for containing a supply of gas under pressure and a reducing valve for controlling the flow of gas from said pressure chamber to the interior of said receptacle, and adjusting means carried by said casing and disposed within said socket for regulating said reducing valve to operate at a selected pressure.

5. A fluid pressure dispensing device comprising a receptacle for containing a liquid to be dispensed and having an opening therein, a closure for said opening and having a socket on its inner face inaccessible from without said receptacle when said closure is in an operative position with respect to said opening, a casing removably secured within said socket and adapted to be sealed within said receptacle, said casing having a pressure chamber for containing a charge of gas under relatively high pressure adapted to be supplied to said receptacle to expel the material therefrom, and a chamber containing a reducing valve responsive to the pressure of gas within said receptacle for releasing gas from said pressure chamber into said receptacle when the gas pressure in said receptacle decreases to a predetermined value and for interrupting the flow of gas from said chamber when the pressure in said receptacle increases to a predetermined value; and means carried by said casing and housed within said socket for adjusting said reducing valve to operate at a selected pressure within said receptacle, whereby the material is expelled from said receptacle at a predetermined constant pressure.

6. A fluid pressure dispensing assembly comprising a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid to be dispensed, a gas pressure storage device adapted to be inserted in said receptacle as an entirety and sealed therein, said device comprising a casing including a pressure chamber for containing a supply of gas under pressure and a reducing valve arranged to control communication with said chamber and the flow 01 gas therefrom to the interior of said receptacle, and

adjusting means carried by said device and inac- 

